Hidden Remains at Pueblo Funeral Home Leave Coroner and Brother Facing Criminal Charges

Overview

• A state inspection of Davis Mortuary in August 2025 uncovered a concealed room with a strong odor and led regulators to find 24 bodies plus multiple containers of bones and probable human tissue.
• The mortuary was privately owned by then–Pueblo County Coroner Brian Cotter and his brother Chris, and Brian Cotter resigned from the coroner’s office soon after the discovery.
• In June 2026 the Cotter brothers were arrested on dozens of felony counts, including 125 counts of abuse of a corpse and multiple counts of forgery and theft, and they were released on a reduced bond.
• Investigators transferred remains to the El Paso County Coroner’s Office for identification and by mid‑2026 had identified 19 of the 24 bodies while forensic work continues for the rest.
• The Colorado Bureau of Investigation says it found evidence of systemic administrative and financial misconduct, including alleged fabrication of death certificates and misappropriation of preneed funeral funds, and families have filed multiple civil suits and held vigils seeking answers.